Track Cycling!

Haven't posted in a while so I'll start most recently and move backwards.
VELODROME ROCKS!Nikee, Bethany, Stephen and I all signed up for the track cycling class at the SD Velodrome. Last night was our first practice and it could not have gone better. I can't believe how much I love it, and how awesome it was. I really thought being a level 1 class that the first class would be like an "intro to fixed gear bike" type of demonstration with a little apron riding. Well that was over within the first 10 min. We hopped on the track and started on the fence. By the time you know it, we're doing stand up drills! This is awesome! I love that they are just throwing us right in! Scary moment of the night was when Stephen pulled out of his pedals and started skidding (sparks flying from his cleats) across the surface, sitting on his top tube. I was right behind him first trying not to crash into him, and second feeling really bad for his man parts. He managed to save himself and didn't even crash. Insane. The class ended with a 1 lap sprint. I think I went a 27.4 so it'll be interesting to track (no pun intended) my progression. So looking forward to next week!

SAN FRANSISCOStephen and I took a little much needed vacation to SF primarily for a potluck Underwater Hockey Tournament on Saturday. We left early Thursday morning and hung out at Fisherman's Warf enjoying a clam chowder bread bowl. Thursday night we went to the Stinking Rose for some surprisingly yummy garlic food. We took a cab to Ghiradeli and enjoyed an ice cream chocolate sunday and a hot chocolate. Mmm!! P.S. I felt a little jyped as the A in the lit up sign was burned out.Friday we biked the bridge! Stephen and I rented a tandem and Anatoly came along as we rode the 18 miles round trip. We stopped for some pizza half way and made it back in time for 2nd dinner at the Steps of Rome...randomly the same place I ate at with my college roommates on our spring break trip during our senior year. Saturday was the tournament. Teams were split up pretty evenly by ranking yourself. I think we ended up 6th out of 8 teams, but I had a blast actually. It was a long day though, with half our games in the deep end (10ft). Stephen and Greg's team won. A banquet to follow, with good pizza and wine. Stephen and I headed back into the city to meet up with his friends who came down from Sacramento.Sunday we went for a 5 mile run along the piers and past the ballpark. A cable car ride was the highlight, as I got to stand in the front spot. More Fisherman's Warf until we had to head back to the BART to catch our plane. Such a fun trip; it was hard to come back to work.

VISITOR and TRAINING
The previous weekend was a decent training weekend. Saturday I did the Del Mar inland ride and hammered pretty hard for 50 miles. My friend Ally from LA came and we hung out and caught up for a bit. Wine Steals (1 block from our house) was the evening activity. Somehow I managed to drag myself out of bed at 5am for my Coronado Superfrog prep. I met up with the group and we headed into the ocean for an easy 30 min swim. We hopped on our bikes and the horses were off! 56 miles, averaging 22.9mph. I'm pretty sure I puked in my mouth at one point when I looked down and we were going 31mph. It's the strand. It's flat. There are no hills. That's some hammering. Granted I was drafting for the majority of the ride...but I would've never gone that fast had I rode alone. It was awesome. We threw on our shoes and went for a 40min run along the beach. Ouch! Really glad I had Mike there to push me. Sunday afternoon I played hostess again, and Ally and I went for a walk along the bay and then to Pinkberry for some delicious frozen yogurt. We then headed to Solana for some Pizza Port. Mmm. Monday I ran, Tuesday was JT's ride and Wednesday was a solid masters workout. 4x(300, 200, 100) on 1:30, 1:25, 1:20, 1:15 base. The first 3 sets were easy, and the 4th felt impossible. I couldn't crank hard enough. I had gotten stuck in the groove of the first 3 and couldn't get it going.

LOOKING AHEAD
Not really sure what's in store for this weekend. Superfrog is in less than 3 weeks. I'm really looking forward to it, as I just found out my parents and sister are coming into town to watch! The first club race of the year is the weekend before, on Fiesta Island which I may do to get back the feeling of racing, competing and transitioning. I haven't raced since my win at the December duathlon :)